Dow Today: Merck (MRK) Higher

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) is trading up 33 points (+0.2%) at 14,286 as of Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013, 11:35 a.m. ET. During this time, 234.9 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands vs. an average daily trading volume of 621.3 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,509 issues advancing vs. 1,334 declining with 158 unchanged.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

The Dow component leading the way higher looks to be Merck (NYSE:MRK), which is sporting a 14-cent gain (+0.3%) bringing the stock to $43.38. This single gain is lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 1.06 points or roughly accounting for 3.2% of the Dow's overall gain. Volume for Merck currently sits at 7.6 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 15 million shares.

Merck has a market cap of $130.99 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. Shares are up 5.6% year to date as of Tuesday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 4%.

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company has a P/E ratio of 21.7, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Merck as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Merck Ratings Report.

It's Official: Action Alerts PLUS beats the S&P 500 with Dividends Reinvested! Cramer and Link were up 16.72% in 2012. Were you? See what they are trading for 14-days FREE.

For more information on Dow Jones Industrial Average click any of the following:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Stock Price

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Analyst Ratings

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Key Stats & Profile

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Earnings

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Ratio Comparison

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Growth Rates

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Balance Sheet

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Cash Flow

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Income Statement